On March 29, Derick Dillard and Jill Duggar went for a walk in a park near her Arkansas hometown.

She wasn’t fazed when her sisters, who were chaperoning her date, began to trail behind or when a random singer asked to serenade the young couple. Only during the second verse of the song did she realize the lyrics were about her and Derick.

“I shared how much I loved her, how I couldn’t imagine life without her, and I asked her, ‘Will you marry me?’” Derick recalls of the moment he got down on one knee and presented her with the custom-designed, .63-carat diamond ring he got in Israel.

Courtesy of Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard

1 of 7

Although the two made the commitment not to kiss or engage in any physical contact until their wedding night—they had decided, when courting, they would hold hands after he popped the question.

“We decided not to hold hands until we were engaged and to have our first kiss on our wedding day,” Jill explains. “We want to save the physical side of our relationship for our wedding day and not go further than we should.”

Courtesy of Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard

2 of 7

They may not believe in intimacy before the wedding night, but there’s no denying the physical chemistry is definitely there!

“I feel like I’m dreaming,” Derick gushes. “It was great to grab her hand for the first time.”

Courtesy of Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard

3 of 7

While some are critical of their decision, Jill proudly explains her stance and why they won’t kiss until they say, “I do!”

“We’re really trying to keep our relationship focused not on the physical but really just more on communication and continuing to learn more about each other,” she explains.

“We’re saving our first kiss and things beyond that for our wedding.”

Courtesy of Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard

4 of 7

Jill’s parents have expressed nothing but support for her decision—which is the same as daughter Jessa, who is currently in a courtship with Ben Seewald.

“Both couples have decided to have high standards in order to keep themselves pure and also set an example for their younger siblings,” Jim Bob says.

Courtesy of Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard

5 of 7

The Duggar matriarch—Michelle—echoes this sentiment, adding there’s a lot to learn from the young couple.

“What’s so neat is Jessa and Ben and Jill and Derick have set their own courtship standards and now engagement standards, and they’ve said they want to bring them out in the open and be accountable,” the mom-of-19 explains.

“I think it’s good for couples out there—young, old, whatever—you can set those standards and really focus on getting to know each other and wait for the physical aspects.”

Courtesy of Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard

6 of 7

For Jill and Derick, the physical aspect is on hold for now—but definitely not forever! Just like her parents, Jill is looking forward to having a big family of her own.

“Both of us want as many kids as God will give us and we’ve talked about adoption,” Jill says. “My parents kept popping them out so we’ll see how [our] fertility is!”